Enabling data tracking without requiring direct contact

Abstract

A system and method for activating and deactivating a device that is capable of performing monitoring functions such as the recording of physical parameters such as heart rate, time exercised, or capable of recording using a video camera, and may be referred to as a Tracker, wherein the system and method enables a user to quickly activate or deactivate a function by simple movement of a signaling device near the Tracker, wherein the Tracker may be toggled on and off whenever the signaling device is moved adjacent to the Tracker, and wherein toggling may be indicated by an audible, visual and/or haptic indicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling a device using a non-contact gesture, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tracking device that records or monitors data, the tracking device including a means for activating and deactivating the tracking device;   providing a signaling device for transmitting a signal to the tracking device, wherein the signal may deactivate the tracking device or activate the tracking device by toggling the means for activating and deactivating the tracking device; and   performing a non-contact gesture by bringing the signaling device to within a predetermined distance of the tracking device to cause the tracking device to perform a toggling event from a current state to a different state.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting the current state and the different state from the group of states of the tracking device comprised of activating the tracking device, deactivating the tracking device, answering a telephone call, terminating a telephone call, starting a function on a smart phone, stopping a function on a smart phone, starting a video recording, stopping a video recording, taking a picture, starting a health tracking function, stopping a health tracking function, starting a GPS device, stopping a GPS device, pausing, and turning on or off an appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of modifying the non-contact gesture to include a minimum time that the signaling device must be within the predetermined distance of the tracking device. 
     
     
         4 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of providing an indicator that the toggling event has occurred. 
     
     
         5 . The method as defined in  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting the indicator from the group of indicators comprised of visual indicators, audible indicators and haptic indicators. 
     
     
         6 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting the means of communicating between the signaling device and the tracking device from the group of communication technologies comprised of near field communication (NFC) technology, Bluetooth™ technology, WiFi, cell phone wireless communication, any other radio frequency technology that enables a signal to be transmitted from the signaling device to the tracking device, and capacitive proximity sensing. 
     
     
         7 . The method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the method further comprises the step of selecting tracking device from the group of tracking devices comprised of a smart phone, a satellite phone, a video recorder, a digital camera, a fitness tracking device, a GPS device, a health monitoring device, and a stationary or portable electronic appliance. 
     
     
         8 . A system for controlling a device using a non-contact gesture, said system comprised of:
 a tracking device that records or monitors data, the tracking device including toggling means for activating and deactivating the tracking device;   a signaling device for transmitting a signal to the tracking device, wherein the signal may deactivate the tracking device or activate the tracking device by toggling the means for activating and deactivating the tracking device.   
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling a device using a non-contact gesture, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tracking device that records or monitors data, the tracking device including a means for activating and deactivating the tracking device;   providing a signaling device for transmitting a signal;   a host device for communicating with the tracking device and the signaling device, wherein the signaling device transmits a first signal that is received by the host device, and wherein the host transmits a second signal to the tracking device in response to the receiving the first signal from the signaling device; and   performing a non-contact gesture by bringing the signaling device to within a predetermined distance of the host device to cause the tracking device to perform a toggling event from a current state to a different state.